Background: Intestinal expression of regenerating pancreatic islet-derived protein-encoding genes (REG) would be enhanced after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and would affect postoperative type 2 diabetes remission (T2Dr).
Methods: Intestinal biopsy samples were collected from 20 adult obese women with T2D before and 3 months after RYGB. Levels of REG expression and the gene encoding its putative receptor (EXTL3) were assessed by microarray and validated by quantitative RT-PCR. T2Dr was assessed according to ADA criteria 1 year after RYGB.
Results: After RYGB, only patients with T2Dr had significantly increased REG1α and REG3γ expression in the jejunum, as validated by quantitative RT-PCR.
Conclusions: Our data provide support for the hypothesis that increased jejunal expression of REG genes after RYGB affects T2Dr, possibly by playing an endocrine function.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01251016.
Keywords: Gene expression; Glycemic control; Regeneration genes; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.